Ghostly cries from the musical saw and ondes Martenot bring an element of eeriness and adventure--yet it's hard to escape a niggling feeling that Hawley is here polishing a formula, even falling back on cliche, in his continuing quest to make the local and homely sound lushly romantic.

Truelove’s Gutter abandons the lush strings and complex production of previous work for a more straightforward style, and the results bring to mind the honest, plainspoken albums that Cash and Jones recorded in the mid-70s.

The follow up to his masterpiece "Coles Corner", True Loves Gutter is as dark and sad sounding as it's title would hint. Unlike the mostlyThe follow up to his masterpiece "Coles Corner", True Loves Gutter is as dark and sad sounding as it's title would hint. Unlike the mostly short and to the point tracks on it's predecessor, the majority of the songs on here are quite long. There's not much to smile about - be warned, this isn't Monday morning music, but it is a beautiful record all the same. Fans of Hawley will appreciate it, newcomers might find Coles Corner an easier introduction.…Expand

He's perfected a mood here and sustained it throughout the entire album-- there is no escaping this drawing-room mystery. Perfect for He's perfected a mood here and sustained it throughout the entire album-- there is no escaping this drawing-room mystery. Perfect for the autumnal intellectual.…Expand

Overkill on what is already well-travelled Hawley territory. There is nothing new here other than perhaps some seriously decent music to put Overkill on what is already well-travelled Hawley territory. There is nothing new here other than perhaps some seriously decent music to put the baby to sleep by. Has it's moments of lush beauty but just doesn't live up to previous works.…Expand